Francesca Martinez, the comedian who has cerebral palsy but prefers to
describe herself as 'wobbly', has written a new book, What the **** is
normal?! Ava Vidal meets her

The introduction to Francesca Martinez’s new book What the **** is normal?! is in fact a disclaimer. She wants the world to know that she is not ‘inspiring’ as she is so often described. She even makes fun of the idea, saying "most people believe that if a disabled person manages to achieve pretty much anything in their life beyond putting their own clothes on, taking a shower without the use of a pulley system, and undressing themself before bedtime at 7pm, then they are … an Inspiration."

Martinez has cerebral palsy. But she is right about the inspiration thing. Many able-bodied people's attitudes to disabled people and disability in general leave a lot to be desired.

Except that Martinez is pretty inspirational. She spent a year campaigning to get 100,000 signatures required to trigger a milestone parliamentary debate on welfare reform and its impact on disabled people. Earlier this year, Westminster saw what was described as the "first debate secured by disabled people, for disabled people".

I asked her how it felt. “It was a complete surprise. I had no idea about it until that morning. On the day I just got an email that said ‘Congratulations!’ I was voted for mainly for the WOW petition and I was really pleased that that work was recognised by a mainstream BBC outlet because the cuts are being widely ignored. Especially the disability cuts.”

Entertainment v reality

We then spoke about The Big Benefits Row TV show on Channel 5 that Martinez (unlike me) was sensible enough to drop out of. I expressed my disgust at how the whole subject was handled, inviting controversial people like Katie Hopkins on solely, it seemed, to make controversial statements.

“Those shows are entertainment first," she says. "They did not look at this subject in any serious, meaningful way. I am glad that I stayed away and I can’t say I regret it. I think that issues around disability are largely ignored because they are not seen as sexy, readable news stories. What I think the petition did was show that people do care and this isn’t a subject to be ignored. Thousands of people are dying every year from these cuts. I think in a way that this is just systemic murder.

"I think that slowly we’re putting it on the agenda. First we had the WOW petition and the debate in parliament was very successful. We have some great MP’s behind it and it is starting to be seen as a political topic. My hope is that Miliband and Labour will come out and support it. Most disabilities are acquired during life through accident or illness, 83 per cent in fact, so this is a universal issue. Now when people become sick or disabled they don’t only have to worry about their new challenges in their life, but they will have financial worries as well.”

I have heard many black or female comedians saying that they don’t want to be labelled as a ‘black comedian’ or a ‘female comedian’ preferring to only be referred to as a ‘comedian’. Neither of those labels have ever been a problem to me. I wondered if Francesca has any problem being referred to as a ‘disabled comedian.’

“I don’t shy away from it. But what I find so interesting is that if you are a black, female, disabled or gay comic, you are immediately referred to as an ‘issue’ comic. But if you are a straight, white male then you are just a comic that speaks about life. Well, we all talk about life. When I speak about being 'wobbly', I am not speaking about an issue, I am speaking about my life. And when you speak about racism, you’re not speaking about an issue but your life experience.”

What the hell is 'normal'?

I point out that this is because straight, white men tend to be accepted by society as the 'default position', and anything outside of that is not seen as ‘normal’. I recently had an experience with a friend who said, “I like your hair Ava but you couldn’t do that at a normal hairdresser could you?”

I tried to point out that my hairdresser was ‘normal’ to me and her hairdresser would not be because I have Afro hair.

“That is primarily why I wrote the book,” Francesca laughs. “I just find it all so funny, this concept of normality. Everyone is normal, and everyone’s life is normal to them. When I was a kid I felt totally normal. There was not one day when I woke up thinking ‘I’ve got cerebral palsy’. Everyday I wake up and get surprised I am wobbly 'cause I just feel totally normal and completely capable.

"I’ve met people that you would term severely disabled, some in wheelchairs that can barely move or struggle to breathe and they will say ‘I think I am normal’ because it’s them and their experience is normal. I think the label ‘normal’ is really inaccurate and really misleading. No one is less normal than anyone else.”

Martinez credits her family for making sure that she felt totally loved. In the book she describes the close relationship she has with her parents, brother and grandparents.

The real enemy?

“The real problem in this world is consumerism. There are all these products that are being made that we are being told if we buy, our lives will be perfect. That is just not true. Young good-looking people are suffering from eating disorders and drug addiction because they are under so much pressure. In fact, most of these people have much sadder lives than I do. I often feel that being so far away from the ideal has probably served me quite well. I am very happy with what I have.”

I have read the book and I highly recommend it. It is honest and refreshing but most of all it is bloody funny. What the **** is normal anyway?